Heidi MacDonald (The Beat) returns to join Jimmy in the annual “Best of 2017” podcast! While there were many amazing comic books, TV shows, films and more…these are the best picks that THEY happen to read/watch. They probably missed some of your favorites but hope you check out what they really enjoyed in 2017. I mean, just check out that picture above. They covered A LOT! They’re definitely more loquacious than laconic so buckle up for a long ride! So many great creators in comics this year and quite a few got multiple kudos throughout the podcast. Thanks to Penelope Bagieu, Emil Ferris, Tillie Walden, Tom King, Greg Pak, Sina Grace and many others for bringing us such amazing work last year. Looking forward to all of your future projects! Drop us a line and let us know what some of your favorites were so we can check them out. Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Emily Edwards returns for some nerdy banter! She and Jimmy have an impromptu chat/review about Star Wars: The Last Jedi and hope everyone had a great Christmas/holiday! News includes: Brian Michael Bendis’ last Marvel comic will be Iron Man #600, The Last Jedi‘s kick ass sisters (Rose & Paige) will be getting a comic book prequel and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Jon Hoche returns to the rotating co-host chair! They chat about that Bat proposal, the Black Panther trailer and fondly remember Adam West. Jimmy is heading down to Heroes Con this weekend in Charlotte, NC. He’s got a ton of interviews to do and is moderating 3 panels. (See them listed below). Say hi if you see him whizzing by this weekend. News includes: DC’s Bombshells United is coming in August as a digital first title, some E3 news highlights, Jhonen Vasquez will write an issue of the Invader Zim comic, Extraordinary: Stan Lee will be a “This Is Your Life” type documentary and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Saturday
11:00 AM
Room 207D
MOTOR CRUSH
Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider podcast) sits with MOTOR CRUSH creators BRENDEN FLETCHER, CAMERON STEWART and BABS TARR to talk about their hit sci-fi/action/adventure series from Image Comics! How did they come together for this project? What inspired them? What’s it like working on their own creation as opposed to work for hire? When can we expect more?! Come on by this fun and laid back panel to hear them discuss all of this and more.
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3:00 PM
Room 203A
INSPIRATIONS
Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider podcast) moderates a motivational panel on what inspires cartoonists. Come see and hear BRIDGIT CONNELL (Brother Nash), ASHLEY LANNI HOYE, (Aspire), KATA KANE (Altar Girl), and CARA MCGEE (Over the Garden Wall) talk about what inspires them to create. Thoughts on art, music, literature, TV/film, pop culture and more and how it helps them along in their creative endeavors. Come discover some new things to inspire you and maybe even share your own!
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Sunday
3:00 PM
Room 203A
Spotlight on BEN TEMPLESMITH
Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider podcast) sits down with BEN TEMPLESMITH to discuss his illustrious career illustrating illustrations! They’ll chat about old work, new work and upcoming work. From 30 Days of Night to Wormwood to Fell. With some Batman and Doctor Who as well! How did he develop his unique style? What inspires him? Come listen, learn and maybe even love! Hail, Squid!

It’s our Best of 2016! And just like last year, Jimmy sits down with The Beat’s Heidi MacDonald and good pal Jon Hoche to go over their 2016 favorites in comic books, TV and film. They didn’t read or watch everything released that year, so it’s just the Best of what they did read/watch. Fun discussions on great comics, their creators, TV shows, films, actors and more. What were your favorites last year? Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Jimmy is still recovering from NYCC along with everyone else so he flies solo this week against his better judgement. He gives his New York Comic Con recap and talks about the massive coverage he got while there. In this episode, you’ll hear Jimmy interview Simon Spurrier (The Spire/Doctor Who/Weavers), Brian Pulido (Coffin Comics/Lady Death/La Muerta), Melody Often (Trinidot) and the creators at Legacy Rising. News includes: James Olsen will become Guardian on Supergirl, The Wasp will be joining the team in the Avengers 4 film, Lion Forge Comics announces a new superhero line, Hayley Atwell will return to Agent Carter in animated form, Super Sons is comiung from DC Comics focusing on Damien Wayne/Jonathan Kent, Ms America will finally get her own series at Marvel, Archie Comics will be publishing comics that will tie into the Riverdale live action series and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Jimmy attended Heroes Con last weekend and moderated some great panels! Here, you’ll hear the Introverts vs Extoverts panel he did with Bridgit Connell, Monica Gallagher, Erica Henderson and Kata Kane. They talked about how they learned to overcome being introverted, gave advice on how they promote their work, if there is such a thing as being too extroverted and much more! Check out this informative and fun panel! And later this week, CNI will release a Heroes Con interview special with Bobby Timony, Brockton McKinney, Kevin Mellon, Nic Terhorst, Genevieve FT, Buzz, Anna-Liisa Jones, Haigen Shelley, and Jim Shelley. And then in next week’s podcast, the final Heroes Con interview with Brenden Fletcher will be available for your listening pleasure. Phew! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Jimmy attended Heroes Con over the weekend and boy howdy did he get a lot done! He moderated 2 panels and got 11 interviews. He flew solo and gave a nice Heroes Con recap for you to enjoy. Including info about the panels he moderated, interviews, people he met (including Jim Steranko!) and more. In this episode, you’ll hear him chat with the Wonder Twins Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Francesco Francavilla, Ben Templesmith and Bridgit Connell. Later this week, you can listen to the panel he moderated called Introverts vs Extroverts with Monica Gallagher, Bridgit Connell, Kata Kane and Erica Henderson. And even later this week, CNI will release a Heroes Con interview special with Bobby Timony, Brockton McKinney, Kevin Mellon, Nic Terhorst, Genevieve FT, Buzz, Anna-Liisa Jones, Haigen Shelley, and Jim Shelley. And then in next week’s podcast, the final Heroes Con interview with Brenden Fletcher will be available for your listening pleasure. Phew! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Emily Edwards returns to the rotating co-host chair! They chat about the rumors involving Brie Larson as Captain Marvel and Tom Hiddleston as James Bond. News includes: Superman will make an appearance in the first 2 episodes of Season 2 of Supergirl, Millarworld announced Reborn from Mark Millar and Greg Capullo, and Gillian Anderson will play “Media” in the upcoming TV adaptation of American Gods. Jimmy is leaving for Heroes Con in North Carolina next week and you shouldn’t definitely go if you are in Charlotte from June 17-19! One of the best comic conventions around. Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

It’s our Best of 2015! Jimmy sits down with The Beat’s Heidi MacDonald and good pal Jon Hoche to go over their 2015 favorites in comic books, TV and film. They didn’t read or watch everything released that year, so it’s just the Best of what they did read/watch. Fun discussions on great comics, their creators, TV shows, films, actors and more. What were your favorites last year? Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

Jimmy welcomes back Emily Edwards in the rotating co-host chair. They chat about nerd wins at The Emmys and hope someone will cosplay Nick Furry (not a typo) at NYCC. News includes: Bill Finger will finally get credit for his contributions to Batman, Friday is National Comic Book Day, DC’s Omega Men is saved from cancellation (kind of), female creators sweep the Ignatz Awards at SPX, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze are the new creative team behind upcoming Black Panther series and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Also, get a hold of us!

The podcast wife Erica Schultz returns to help finish off the final Heroes Con interviews that Jimmy got while covering his favorite convention. You’ll hear Nate Simpson (Nonplayer), Andrew Maclean (Head Lopper/Apocalyptigirl) and Lauren Moran! News includes: Grant Morrison/Dan Mora bring a bad ass new Santa Claus origin in Klaus from Boom! Studios, Top Cow will end Witchblade series in October, Guillermo del Toro has dropped out of the Justice League Dark movie, Season 3 of Agents of SHIELD will feature the Secret Warriors, Aquaman is most toxic superhero online, a The Walking Dead zombie cruise is scheduled in January with stars from the series and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!

Jimmy does it solo after planned co-hosts schedules didn’t permit them to hang. He got A LOT of coverage at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival and shares just a few interviews. He talked to Andy Belanger (Southern Cross, Kill Shakespeare), Lucy Knisley (Displacement, Relish), Mike Maihack (Cleopatra in Space), and Babs Tarr (Batgirl). He gives his overall recap of the show which is basically that it’s awesome and you should all attend! News bits include: Archie Comics launches Kickstarter campaign for “New Riverdale”, new Thor identity revealed, the Flash/Arrow spin-off gets a name with DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Agent Carter gets picked up, Hugh Jackman says Wolverine 3 will be his last appearance as character, The Coldest City by Antony Johnston/Sam Hart will be adapted to film starring Charlize Theron, Brad Bird confirms The Incredibles 2 will be his next film, and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!

Even more TCAF interviews this week with CHIP ZDARSKY, JILLIAN TAMAKI, and ED PISKOR! And yet even more next week with MICHEL FIFFE, KAGAN MCLEOD, JONATHAN BAYLIS, WILLOW DAWSON, CONOR MCCREERY, ROBERT GOODIN and DAN BERRY!

More MoCCA interviews with Monica Gallagher and Jamie Tanner! Jimmy is joined in studio by artists Melissa Dowell and Yao Xiao. They chat about all the trailers that came out last week including Star Wars, Jurassic World, Fantastic Four and Batman vs Superman. News includes: Archie gets a Sharknado, Revolution comes back in comic form, an X-Men is outed by telepathy, Silicon Valley Comic Con is coming, R2D2 will fly around the world, Jedis CAN marry, Patty Jenkins is new Wonder Woman movie director, a new Flash Gordon film is on the way, a live action Winnie the Pooh film is coming, a Galaxy Quest TV show is happening and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!